# The Ugliest Man — Thus Spoke Zarathustra character guide

> The Ugliest Man in Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0138-part-iv-lxvii-the-ugliest-man

## Snapshot

A figure so deformed by suffering that he killed God rather than endure divine pity—now seeking the one teacher who condemns compassion.

## Who they are

The Ugliest Man carries the secret that he murdered God, driven not by rebellion but by shame: he could not bear a witness who saw his deepest degradation. He seeks Zarathustra because only he teaches that pity is an insult, that great suffering demands reverence rather than assistance. His arrival tests Zarathustra's own doctrine—can the prophet truly reject compassion when confronted with suffering that repels even as it demands response?

## Relationships

### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra)

_psychological_

The Ugliest Man, who killed God out of pity, represents the deepest human shame and forces Zarathustra to confront the abyss of pity.

### [The Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_shadow)

_psychological_

The Shadow, a restless follower of Zarathustra, is drawn to the Ugliest Man's profound shame and hidden truth.

### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra)

_psychological_

The Ugliest Man, who killed God out of pity, represents the deepest human shame and forces Zarathustra to confront the abyss of pity.

### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra)

_psychological_

The Ugliest Man, who killed God out of pity, represents the deepest human shame and forces Zarathustra to confront the abyss of pity.

## In the story

### [XLII: Redemption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xlii-redemption)

Not directly present, but the theme of reversed cripples and fragmented humanity resonates with his character.

### [The Vision and the Enigma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-xlvi-the-vision-and-the-enigma)

Implied as the shepherd in the vision, who bites off the serpent's head and becomes transfigured.

### [LXVII: The Ugliest Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxvii-the-ugliest-man)

The Ugliest Man reveals himself as the murderer of God, explaining that God's all-seeing pity was unbearable. He seeks Zarathustra as his last refuge.

### [LXVIII: The Voluntary Beggar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxviii-the-voluntary-beggar)

Mentioned as the one Zarathustra left before feeling chilled and lonesome.

### [LXXI: The Greeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxi-the-greeting)

Sits with a crown on his head and purple girdles, disguising himself as handsome.

### [The Higher Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxiii-the-higher-man)

Not directly mentioned, but the chapter's themes of despair and failure resonate with his character.

### [LXXVII: The Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxvii-the-awakening)

Leads the litany in praise of the ass, gurgling and snorting before finding words.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-ii)

Leads the litany in praise of the ass, gurgling and snorting before finding words.

### [The Ass-Festival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxviii-the-ass-festival)

Lies on the ground giving wine to the ass, claims Zarathustra taught him that one kills most thoroughly by laughter, and is accused of reawakening the old God.

### [The Ass Festival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-i)

Claims to have reawakened God and quotes Zarathustra's teaching about killing through laughter.

### [The Drunken Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxix-the-drunken-song)

Expresses contentment with life and a wish for its recurrence, triggering the higher men's transformation.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-i)

Speaks for the last time, expressing contentment with his life and love for the earth, and asks the higher men if they too would say 'Once more!' to life.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-ii)

His appearance causes Zarathustra's stunned, drunken state.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_ugliest_man
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters